June 4, 2014. Copyright 2014, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Perceptions of the United States

For media interviews with the participating pollsters, please contact:
Robin Miller, Marketing and Communications Manager
GlobeScan Incorporated
Tel: +1 647 528 2767
Robin.Miller@GlobeScan.com

Steven Kull, Director
Program on International Policy Attitudes, Washington
Tel: +1 202 232 7500
(Mobile: +1 301 254 7500)
Skull@pipa.org 

LONDON, June 4, Graphic News: Global views of the USA have declined sharply in 2014, as shown in the latest 24-country poll for the BBC World Service, conducted by GlobeScan and The Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) at the University of Maryland.

On average, in the 20 tracking countries1 surveyed both in 2013 and 2014, 42 per cent of respondents hold positive views of the US influence in the world, while 39 per cent hold negative views. This represents a substantial decline since 2013, with positive views decreasing by three points and negative views increasing by four pointsÑthe highest increase in the survey along with Russia. This is the third consecutive year that perceptions of the US influence worsened.

In terms of positive views, the USA still ranks eighth out of 17 countries rated, including the EU. Of the 23 countries surveyed about the USAÕs influence in 2014, 12 countries hold positive views, nine hold negative views, and two are divided (Turkey and Australia).

The deterioration of views towards the USA is mostly led by sharp increases in negative views among allies where extensive US surveillance activity has been discovered and widely criticized. Somewhat divided in 2013, the German opinion has moved firmly in negative territories following an 18-point increase in negative ratings (up to 57%, the third-most negative attitude towards the USA in the survey) combined with a 14-point decrease in positive views (down to 21%). Unfavourable views have also surged 19 points in Spain and the countryÕs opinion has now shifted from leaning largely positively in 2013 to being somewhat negative in 2014 (39% positive vs 44% negative). Perceptions have also cooled down significantly in Brazil with negative views going up 15 points and favourable ratings decreasing by eight points. However, there is still a majority of Brazilians who view the American influence positively (51% positive vs 38% negative).

Perceptions of the USA have also worsened sharply among traditionally friendly African countries. Negative ratings are up 13 points in Kenya, ten points in Ghana, and seven points in Nigeria, and the proportions of positive ratings in these three countries have concurrently decreased averages of two digits. However, strong majorities remain favourable overall (69% in Ghana, 59% in Nigeria, and 55% in Kenya)Ñand the most favourable in the survey for Ghana.

Opinions of the USA have become less favourable among neighbouring countries as well. In Canada, the public has shifted from being divided in 2013 to leaning negatively (43% positive vs 52% negative) this year following a seven-point increase in negative ratings. The same shift happened in Mexico where the population is now leaning somewhat negatively (35% positive vs 41% negative). Surveyed for the first time in 2014, respondents in Argentina mostly lean negative as well (29% positive vs 39% negative). 

In Europe, France and the UK buck the worsening trend seen among the Germans and the Spaniards. A stable majority of French (51%) remain positive towards the American influence while perceptions have nicely improved in the UK where the opinion has shifted from being divided in 2013 (46% positive vs 46% negative) to leaning positively this year (52% positive vs 42% negative). In peripheral Europe, views have warmed among the Turks, with negative ratings dropping 23 points and positive ratings going up by nine points, making the opinion shift from leaning negatively in 2013 to being divided in 2014 (36% positive vs 36% negative). Surveyed for the first time this year, Israel holds very warm views towards its closest ally: six in ten Israelis (60%) have favourable attitudes of the USA, the second highest percentage after Ghana.

In Asia, views have remained stable but are quite diverse. South Koreans are the most favourable towards the USA, with 58 per cent posting positive ratings of the American influence. In India and Japan, pluralities lean positively (42% and 37%, respectively), though a majority of Japanese is in fact undecided (54%). A stable plurality in Indonesia leans negatively (47%), while the most unfavourable views towards the USA in the survey are held in Pakistan (61%) and China (59%).
/ENDS